The national U-17 men's football team, the Golden Eaglets, were dealt a severe blow on Monday when the result of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests carried on the players were released to the Nigeria Football Federation.
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Out of the 30 players tested to verify their eligibility to play in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, only 19 scaled the hurdles while 11 failed and have been told to leave camp on the grounds of being overage.
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The Nigeria Football Federation's Director of Technical, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, who disclosed this to Complete Sports on Monday said coach Manu Garba has been directed to get replacements for the dropped players.
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Dr. Ikpeme further revealed that the tests conducted at the National Hospital, Abuja showed that the 11 players failed the MRI Level 6 test which FIFA insists all teams must pass to qualify to play.
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"We received the results of the tests and I must say that it was not palatable," Ikpeme said. "Eleven of the 30 players failed the MRI test and we have asked them to leave camp as they are above the age limits for the tournament.
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"The coaches have been told to get replacements for them as quickly as possible so as to be able to blend them with the 19 that are left in camp but my fear is whether those they would call up would pass the test."
All this failing of test in out football must just stop once and for all cos it is making other countries see us as 'cheats'